Category Archives: Dinewise

Venus Greek-Cypriot Cuisine is a Greektown gem worthy of its accolades

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Venus Greek-Cypriot Cuisine
820 W. Jackson, Chicago
312.714.1001
http://www.venuschicago.com/

Hours:
4 p.m.-11 p.m., Mon.-Thurs.
4 p.m.-midnight, Fri.-Sat
noon-10 p.m., Sun.
Entrée price range: $10.95 – $27.95

Greektown. This iconic neighborhood brings visions of festive food and drink to the minds of Chicagoans. Although most people tend to think of Greektown as a strip of restaurants on Halsted, there are some interesting things to see on the side streets as well. Most noticeably, in our minds, is Venus Greek Cypriot Cuisine, an exceptional restaurant tucked just around the corner from Halsted, on West Jackson. This popular mainstay has received consistently good reviews, for good reason. The restaurant serves up food that’s not your typical Greek fare, although it’s close enough to justify its Greektown location.

The difference is that Venus Greek-Cypriot Cuisine features the food of Cyprus. This Mediterranean island state has been a cultural crossroads for thousands of years, and the food reflects it. Cyprus was as influenced by Middle Eastern nations such as Lebanon as much as it was by Greece. While the food is similar to Greek food, the spices and ingredients are noticeably different. To our palate, Cypriot food is slightly more refined and the flavors are a bit more subtle and complex. All this translates into delicious food that sets Venus apart from its Greek counterparts.

The décor is clearly Mediterranean and casual. Bright pastel colors dominate the walls and compliment the tile floors. To one side is the bar area. The bar is designed to replicate the shape of a Greek sailing ship and there is a sizeable collection of regulars who stop by for a cocktail after work and during the evening hours. The main dining room is large and divided into smaller sections through the use of recessed and raised floors. Although there is no separate private dining room, it is easy to use one of these dining spaces as a semi-private group dining area.

The menu offers a very generous selection of freshly prepared, made from scratch items. One could easily enjoy a wonderful feast by combining a variety of hot and cold appetizers, but that would take away the comforting enjoyment of some of the signature entrees. So, don’t rush. We recommend savoring your meal slowly for maximum pleasure and sharing the food with your dinner companions. Start with a few appetizers and a glass of wine, then enjoy a salad or two, and then indulge in a robust main course. Be sure to save room for dessert, for they are a treat.

There are fourteen cold appetizers on the menu. We love the dips, which go perfectly with pita. Our favorites are the Talatouri (a Cypriot version of Tzatziki) which is a yogurt spread with cucumber and mint and the Taramosalata, a creamy fish roe spread blended with olive oil, lemon and bread. Another excellent cold app is the Octapodi Salata with diced octopus, onions, olive oil and balsamic vinegar.

There are 21 hot appetizers on the menu. You can order the traditional Saganaki (flaming Greek cheese) but we recommend that you instead go with the delicious Sakagani Halloumi, which is baked imported Cypriot cheese with a smooth texture and a wonderful subtle flavor. If you like stuffed grape leaves, you’re in for a pleasant surprise with the Koupepia, a Cypriot version stuffed with ground pork and rice, served with yogurt. Amazing.

Among the other hot apps we like are the simple but delicious Octopadi Sti Schara, grilled baby octopus on a bed of lettuce with vinegar, the Marides (breaded smelts), and the Triopitakia, phyllo dough filled with a cheese mixture.

In the soups and salads department, you will enjoy the traditional Avgolemono (egg lemon rice soup) and there are several small salads, including Kipriaki, a traditional Cypriot salad with chopped lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, fresh green onions, capers and cilantro in a house dressing. Another nice salad choice is the Aphrodite, with mixed greens, tomatoes, pine nuts, roasted peppers, boiled egg, kefalotiri cheese in a balsamic wine dressing.

On to the main courses. You’ll have no trouble finding something for everyone in your group; there are 46 entrees, which run the gamut from grilled meats, to slow cooked roasted meats, poultry delights, seafood specialties, pastas, vegetarian dishes and some American entrées. If we were to choose a single signature entrée, we would pick the Kleftiko, a Cypriot lamb dish. The lamb is slow cooked in foil for six hours. We also love the hearty Pastitsio Tsoukas, layers of ground beef and pasta topped with a homemade béchamel sauce. But there are so many excellent dishes that you can feel quite comfortable ordering whatever fits your mood.
Desserts are a special treat. The delicious Baklavas is prepared with a Cypriot touch, where walnuts add a subtle twist. The Galaktoboureko is a sumptuous homemade egg custard in phyllo dough.
With all of the food being so shareable, Venus is a terrific spot for a party or dinner celebration. Tell them you want a family style event and they will prepare a feast that will have your guests begging for more.

Note: DineWise is a weekly column appearing in StreetWise magazine. Lee Barrie is on the StreetWise board of directors and he and his wife Cindy own Kurman Communications, a Chicago-based public relations agency specializing in lifestyle, restaurant and hospitality strategic branding, marketing promotions, media relations and social networking. If you’d like your restaurant to be featured on the DineWise blog and in StreetWise magazine, please contact mailto: dinewise@kurman.com.  If you enjoy reading DineWise, perhaps you’d enjoy reading our other blog Got Buzz.  Please check it out.

Indie Café: Edgewater glows with the taste of impressive Thai and Sushi

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Indie Café
5951 N. Broadway, Chicago

(773) 561-5577
http://www.indiecafe.us/

Hours:
11:30 a.m.-10 pm., Mon.-Thurs.;
11:30 a.m.-10:30 p.m.,
Fri.-Sat.; noon-10 p.m., Sun.
Price ranges::

Thai noodle dishes, $7.75-$9.25;
Thai curries, $7.75-$15; Maki, $8-$19

By Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman
We have a fabulous cousin, Harriet, who recently graduated from Carnegie Mellon’s prestigious theater administration program and now has embarked on a promising career at Chicago’s Lookingglass Theatre. To celebrate her jubilant entry into the real world, we decided to take her out for dinner. We picked her up in the car and, while we were going through the various options, she said, “I know a place, you’ll love it—the Indie Café.” Cindy and I looked at each other and smiled. A place we haven’t been to before. Perfect.

So off we drove to Edgewater, where we were thrilled to discover this upbeat and chic BYOB café that offers an excellent selection of both Thai and Japanese dishes. Cindy will always go for sushi, which she loves, but it was a cold day and so Harriet and I chose the Thai menu. We ended up sharing everything anyway, as you’d expect.
What sets the Indie Café menu apart from most menus is that it includes good descriptions of the dishes along with some photos. The Thai offering is wide ranging, with a nice selection of appetizers, soups, salads, noodle dishes, rice dishes, fried rice and curries and seafood. Dishes are labeled according to the level of spiciness and you can request more or less heat, depending on your liking. On the Japanese side, there are some creative maki, accompanied by a good choice of nigiri, appetizers, salads, soups and teriyakis. Portions are large, but not overly so. The dishes are consistently fresh tasting and attractively presented.

Among the Thai standouts was the Crab Rangoon, a Thai appetizer made with crab meat, cream cheese, water chestnut, carrot, and celery wontons. We also enjoyed the Andaman Salad, a multi-textured treat incorporating steamed shrimp, scallop, crab meat and calamari in lime juice, smoked chili paste, onion, carrot, lemon grass and mixed greens.

To try a noodle dish, we ordered Pad Thai, the ubiquitous dish that compared very well with other Thai restaurant versions. Other good noodle choices include Drunken Noodles, with fresh basil, hot chili, broccoli, peas, carrots and tomatoes, bamboo shoots, green beans and bean sprouts, and the Drunken Udon, which features wide wheat noodles stir fried with spiced seafood.

There are some creative Thai curries on the menu. We tried the Indie Signature curry which features classic Mussamun beef curry with cashews, potatoes, spices and herbs. There are several other curry selections that sound delicious.

For my entrée, I ordered the Ginger Fish (I chose tilapia, but you can also order salmon or snapper). This simple dish, steamed in soy with ginger and scallion, was perfectly balanced and even more delicious than I expected. There are numerous other fish and seafood choices, including Stir-Fried Paradise, which includes crispy fish fillet with ginger, red and green pepper, onion, scallion, cashews, and shitake mushrooms in a black bean herb sauce.

Moving to the Japanese menu, there are several tasty salad offerings, such as the signature Indie Salad, a seaweed salad with spicy mayo, crab stick and masago. Teriyakis can be made with beef, chicken, salmon, scallop or tofu. Maki choices are plentiful. Cindy ordered the very fresh tasting White Scorpion, featuring tempura crusted soft shell crab, cucumber, spicy mayo, masago (capelin roe), topped with super white tuna and avocado.

Other interesting maki include the Devil, with crispy salmon skin, cilantro, avocado, cucumber, habanero masago, chili paste, srirachi (spicy Thai sauce) and BBQ sauce; the Crocodile, with a whole piece of eel and stuffed with spicy tuna, cucumber, avocado, tempura crump, habanero masago and BBQ sauce, and the Butter Ocean, with asparagus tempura, cream cheese, smoked salmon and masago, wrapped with shrimp and avocado and topped with spicy butter. If you prefer a more traditional maki, you can order a Dragon or Rainbow, to mention a couple of options.

We were pleased with the service, the upbeat music and the colorful décor. Harriet was thrilled that she could actually take us to a place we hadn’t been to before and that it was such a winner. We’ll have to make dinner with Harriet a regular part of our routine.


Note: DineWise is a weekly column appearing in StreetWise magazine. Lee Barrie is on the StreetWise board of directors and he and his wife Cindy own Kurman Communications, a Chicago-based public relations agency specializing in lifestyle, restaurant and hospitality strategic branding, marketing promotions, media relations and social networking. If you’d like your restaurant to be featured on the DineWise blog and in StreetWise magazine, please contact mailto: dinewise@kurman.com.  If you enjoy reading DineWise, you may enjoy our other blog Got Buzz.  Please check it out.

Dining while celebrating the holidays in Wicker Park-Bucktown

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Dining While Holiday Shopping
Part 2: Hitting the Boutique (Eateries) in Wicker Park Bucktown

by Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman
Story originally appeared in StreetWise

In part two of our guide to eating while holiday shopping, we journey through the hip, creative and casual Wicker Town/Bucktown area. This neighborhood is teeming with stylish stores that showcase the latest trends in fashion with a strong international flavor. We can say the same for the dining scene. Wicker Park Bucktown is one of Chicago’s leading destinations for cutting edge food with a global influence, offered up with casual chic presentation that appeals to both young and old.

Of note is the fact that Wicker Park Bucktown is also an area where many of Chicago’s finest chefs have chosen to open a more casual sister to their upscale restaurants located elsewhere in Chicago. In addition, several chefs have lay claim to the area as their home base. So let’s take a look at some spots that are worth the time spent away from the boutiques.

Dinner Only: shop first, then eat; eat early, then shop—or forget the shopping and just enjoy dinner with a friend

Duchamp
2118 N. Damen, Chicago
(773) 235-6434; www.duchamp-chicago.com

With one of the more flexible menus we’ve seen in a bistro, this upscale casual eatery is the brainchild of chef Michael Taus (Zealous) and the folks from Lumen bar and lounge in the West Loop. The menu offers many small plates, large plates and sides—mix and match to suit your taste and appetite. Although the menu changes often, you’ll find such small plates as Seared Sea Scallop with ragout of cannellini beans and pancetta and Mini Braised Duck Rillette Tartines & Chilled Cauliflower Puree. Large plate selections include Amish Chicken Paillard with French feta, eggplant gateau and roasted plum tomato sauce; Braised Pork Shoulder with puttanesca ragout, wilted spinach and grilled polenta. One of our favorites is the Duchamp Havarti Cheese Burger with tomato rémoulade—the meat is a custom blend designed by the chef and it’s a foodie’s delight. Brunch is served on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Closed on Mondays.

Adobo Grill
2005 W. Division, Chicago

(773) 252-9990; www.adobogrill.com
Adobo Grill serves some of the better Mexican and southwestern cuisine in Chicago. It’s at least a cut or two above your standard fare and the dishes use fresh, authentic ingredients and employ carefully chosen flavor combinations. For starters, try the signature homemade chunky guacamole, prepared tableside, either mild or spicy. Other good choices are the Ceviche Tasting with several varieties, or the Empanadas de Camarón, corn masa empanadas stuffed with sautéed shrimp, cheese and tomatillo salsa, topped with sour cream and fresco cheese.
Entrées we enjoy include Lomito En Mole Negro, grilled pork tenderloin in Oaxacan black mole, with fresh corn tamal and sautéed garlicky spinach; Enchiladas de Pollo, chicken enchiladas basted in mole rojo, topped with sour cream, añejo cheese, and onions; black Tilapia Al Mojo De Ajo, pan seared tilapia with Mexican rice, zucchini, garlicky salsa; Pollo Al Tamarindo, grilled half chicken in tamarind-chipotle glaze with molcajete salsa, guacamole & charro beans; Arrachera Adobada, grilled flank steak in chile morita quemada adobo, frijoles puerco, grilled tomatoes & onions, and the Camarones En Pipian Rojo, chipotle marinated grilled shrimp with plantain rice zucchini fideos and guajillo-sesame seed sauce.
For dessert, go for the flan or try the Tamal De Chocolate, a chocolate tamal with vanilla ice cream, dried cherries and chocolate sauce.
Every Tuesday, The Adobo Grill offers a mix and match menu for $20, any combo of an appetizer, entrée, or dessert. Brunch is served at 11 a.m. on Sunday, with the restaurant staying open through evening hours.
Open for Lunch: eat and shop—then eat again. Yum.
The Fifty/50
2047 W. Division; Chicago
(773) 489-5050; www.thefifty50.com
This comfort food bar and burger spot is one of the most popular in the area. The $10+ Triple Secret Burger is the drawing card. Start with a sauce: BBQ, Teriyaki, Chipotle Aioli, Buffalo, Marinara, Spicy Garlic. Then add your choice of seven cheeses and then add your toppings, which include the usual suspects plus such goodies as a fried egg, pulled pork, creamed spinach and guacamole.
Other sandwich choices are hearty and satisfying: Pulled Pork, Chicago-style Reuben, the unique “Barbe Cuban” with pulled pork, and the Skirt Steak on Garlic Bread. If you’re super hungry, go for the Smoked Baby Back Ribs, Fried Chicken, Skirt Steak or Jumbo Shrimp.
Piece
1927 W. North Ave., Chicago
This high-energy brew pub is about pizza and homemade brew and it’s a great place to hang out and relax between shopping rounds. The rectangular shaped pizza features thin, hand-patted crust, made New Haven-style. Choose plain, red or white sauce and then choose from a variety of interesting toppings, such as spinach, jalapenos, black olives, anchovies, banana peppers, fresh tomatoes, roasted red peppers, sautéed mushrooms, Italian sausage, mashed potatoes, artichoke hearts, fresh basil, bacon, clams, pepperoni, meatballs, chicken, broccoli and ricotta cheese. There are also a number of tasty comfort-food starters plus sandwiches like a Meatball Sub and Eggplant Parmesan.
If you’re a beer aficionado, you’ll appreciate the quality of their homemade beers which run the gamut from a rye beer to a German-style Kolsch Bier, an American-style strong pale ale, a German-style bock and a wheat ale.
If you’re organizing a group shopping party, you can reserve an area of the Party Pit, near the front door. And don’t forget the Dessert Pizza, topped with chocolate hazelnut sauce and mascarpone. OMG.
Hot Chocolate
1747 N. Damen, Chicago
Wicker Park Bucktown is the home this restaurant owned by a James Beard nationally-nominated pastry chef Mindy Segal. We’d be foolish to say just come in for dessert—although that would be quite an experience in itself—because the savory food is delicious and creatively conceived.
At lunchtime, for starters, try the Chicken Salad, made with roasted Gunthorp Farms chicken, or the Green Bean Haricot Vert, with warm butter poached potato pickled mushrooms, Maytag blue cheese honey and chili vinaigrette. There are roughly ten sandwiches on the menu, including Prosciutto with fresh mozzarella, basil, balsamic aioli served on housemade baguette, and the Reuben, made with corned pork belly, house-made sauerkraut, gruyere cheese toasted pumpernickel bread with remoulade.
At dinnertime, starters include Bay Scallops with cider braised spaghetti squash, seared Nantucket Bay scallops, bacon, pickled jalapenos, micro cilantro and cider gastrique and the signature Pretzel: Schlenkerla-smoked, beer-poached soft pretzels, lamb neck rillettes with “pickeled” duck fat, housemade sassafras mustard. A good salad choice is the Winter Panzanella: warm roasted baby beets, toasted pumpernickel Capriole Farm old Kentucky tomme, frisee, clementines and sherry vinaigrette. Entrée choices include Short Rib with blue cheese spatzle, red wine roasted cipollini onions spiced carrot puree, crispy shallot salad and braising jus; crispy skinned Arctic Char with green lentils, pickled white leek salad, green leek puree, beurre; Cassoulet, a rustic French bean stew with pork belly, duck confit, housemade lamb sausage flagolet beans, fennel scented duck broth and duck fat brise, or the Wild Mushroom Lasagna, made with housemade pasta, wild mushrooms, sautéed spinach buffalo milk ricotta, tomato sauce shaved radish salad.
If you come to Hot Chocolate for your sweet tooth you are in for a treat, no question about it. Indulge in one of the amazing milkshakes or hot chocolate recipes. And Mindy’s signature desserts are some of the best anywhere, period. Here are two to consider: A Study In Chocolate Cake, made from chocolate buttermilk and bittersweet chocolate mousse layer cake, Valrhona chocolate cake ice cream “cupcake” with chocolate frosting, fresh honey cream and honey comb, and Ode To The Whatchamacallit, made with milk chocolate peanut butter mousse, malted caramel milk, chocolate cocoa crispies and a shot of peanut butter milkshake.
Note: DineWise is a weekly column appearing in StreetWise magazine. Lee Barrie is on the StreetWise board of directors and he and his wife Cindy own Kurman Communications, a Chicago-based public relations agency specializing in lifestyle, restaurant and hospitality strategic branding, marketing promotions, media relations and social networking. If you’d like your restaurant to be featured on the DineWise blog and in StreetWise magazine, please contact mailto:dinewise@kurman.com

Athenian Room is a Greek DePaul / Lincoln Park Neighborhood Standout

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Athenian Room

807 W. Webster Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 348-5155
Hours: 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Monday-Sunday
Pricing: sandwiches & salads: $4.75-$8.50; dinners, $8.50-$14.75
By Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman
Story originally appeared in StreetWise

All you have to say is “Greek Chicken” and visions of Athenian Room dance in our heads. We’ve never met a harder working team than the folks at Athenian Room, who serve up fresh and tasty Greek cuisine to a steady stream of loyal customers. This venerable Greek restaurant at the corner of N. Halsted and W. Webster caters to a wide demographic—from its affluent neighbors nearby to budget-conscious DePaul students—simply because it does what a great neighborhood eatery should do—serve memorably delicious food at a very reasonable price so that patrons will come back frequently. The décor, with tiled floors and Greek-styled brick and stucco walls, is comfortable and unpretentious.

A neighborhood spot should also offer great take-out service and Athenian Room is as busy with take-out as it is with dine-in customers. They know their customers and treat them as part of the family.
Athenian Room’s signature dish is the Chicken Kalamata Style, served with a Greek Salad and to-die-for Greek fries (steak fries soaked in a special herbed vinegar sauce). A half chicken is seasoned and broiled and served piping hot. We’ve eaten this dish dozens of times and we’ll never get tired of it. Never. When we get it to go, the aroma from the bag practically begs us to dig in before we arrive home. You’d be surprised how many times we’ve savored our chicken at home while indulging in a great episode of Law and Order or CSI, with our dog begging for a chicken morsel or two.
It would be unfair to talk only about the chicken. The menu offers a nice selection of Greek specialties with great burgers thrown in for good measure. For starters, you can choose from such delights as the Taramosalta (Greek caviar) or the Spanakopita (spinach pie in phyllo dough, and the traditional chicken lemon-rice soup.
The salad selections are fresh and delectable. The specialty is the Greek Salad (large or small) with a wonderfully herbed oil and vinegar dressing. You can also order a large salad with tuna, with chicken breast shish kabob or gyros.
If you’re in a sandwich mood, the Athenian Room offers juicy Gyros (pronounced yeer-ose) with or without cheese, served in pita bread, or several versions of a Shish Kabob sandwich such as chicken breast, cheese chicken breast, pork tenderloin and cheese pork tenderloin. Don’t forget to order the Greek fries on the side. The Charburgers can be ordered with American or Feta cheese. They are served with the Greek fries, lettuce, onion, tomato and pickle.
Main courses are grouped into Kalamata style and Athenian style. The Kalamata dinners are similar to the sandwiches, but the portions are larger. All of the dinners are served with Greek fries, pita, tomatoes, onions and Greek Tzatziki sauce (yogurt, cucumbers, garlic, olive oil and herbs). The Athenian dinners include the Greek Chicken, a tender Skirt Steak Alexander Style and Chicken with Bar-B-Que Sauce.
If you have room for dessert the Baklava is a freshly made treat.
The Athenian Room features a spacious, dog-friendly outdoor seating area in the warm weather. Parking can be a challenge but valet parking is available.
Don’t wait too long to join the throng of Athenian Room regulars. Ah, the aroma!

Note: DineWise is a weekly column appearing in StreetWise magazine. Lee Barrie is on the StreetWise board of directors and he and his wife Cindy own Kurman Communications, a Chicago-based public relations agency specializing in lifestyle, restaurant and hospitality strategic branding, marketing promotions, media relations and social networking. If you’d like your restaurant to be featured on the DineWise blog and in StreetWise magazine, please contact DineWise@kurman.com.

The Bristol, a Delicious Bucktown-Wicker Park Eatery & Bar

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The Bristol: 
A Neighborhood Eatery & Bar

2152 N. Damen
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 862-5555
www.thebristolchicago.com


Hours:
Dinner:
Sunday, 5 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Mon.-Thurs., 5:30 p.m. – 10 p.m.
Fri.-Sat., 5:30 p.m. – midnight
Brunch:
Sat.-Sun., 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Entrée (large dish) price range: $10-$18.

By Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman
Story originally appeared in StreetWise

Wicker Park and Bucktown neighborhoods have become quite noteworthy for their diversity of restaurants and boutiques. It’s a great place to shop, eat, take in the art studios and people-watch. There’s a creative spontaneity to the area, and that’s definitely true at The Bristol, a new bistro self-described as a “neighborhood eatery and bar.”

The Bristol is a lively, come as you are gathering place. No reservations are taken, so you may have to wait, but it’s still a good call. There’s an exciting hubbub in the moderately sized dining room. The décor is semi-rustic but done with style. Some of the tables are large and communal; making new friends at these tables is part of the fun.

One look at the menu and we knew it was going to be hard to choose—so many things sounded great. Never fear, our server explained that sharing is welcome. The menu is divided into four sections: bar snacks, salads/sides, medium dishes and large dishes and the cuisine is contemporary American, which means there are a variety of global influences throughout. We picked up primarily a touch of France and Italy in the choice of food selections.

The bar snacks work well as appetizers, but a collection of them would also make for a fun, delicious meal. To start, we tried the Monkey Bread Pull Apart, a small loaf of warm, just baked bread served with dill butter and sea salt. It’s a nice, comforting beginning.  The Grilled Flatbread, with bacon and melted sweet onion, was simply delicious, bordering on addictive.

We moved on to the salad course and were pleasantly surprised. The very fresh Heirloom Apple Salad was a perfect blend of sweet and tangy. The Grilled Mackeral Caesar Salad was also very good; the mackerel was a special touch.

Medium dishes offer a variety of flavors in inspired combinations. Pasta lovers will enjoy the rich but not too heavy Ravioli with Ricotta, egg yolk and brown butter. The Grilled Head-On Prawns, with anchovy butter, were perfectly prepared and mouth watering. Those who want a taste of France might try the Roast Bone Marrow, served with red wine shallot jam.

On to the large dishes: We don’t tend to order chicken dishes unless we think they will be something special, and at The Bristol, we weren’t disappointed. The Ballotine of Young Chicken, served with chestnut spatzle and crunchy salad, was wonderful in flavor and texture; a very comforting dish, hearty but certainly not heavy. The Pan Roasted Skate Wing was another clear winner, served with Saor sauce (an Italian sweet-sour sauce) and delicately seasoned root vegetables.

The variety of dishes at The Bristol is joyfully wide and one can easily enjoy a light meal or a full course feast. It’s a great place for a group where some want a light meal and other are “starving.” For a rich indulgence, try an order of duck fat fries, served with a tasty house made ketchup and aioli, for the table. If you’ve still got room, try the desserts; we loved them.

Note: DineWise is a weekly column appearing in StreetWise magazine. Lee Barrie is on the StreetWise board of directors and he and his wife Cindy own Kurman Communications, a Chicago-based public relations agency specializing in lifestyle, restaurant and hospitality strategic branding, marketing promotions, media relations and social networking. If you’d like your restaurant to be featured on the DineWise blog and in StreetWise magazine, please contact DineWise@kurman.com.

Kan Zaman’s Lebanese Cuisine Stands Out from the Crowd

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Kan Zaman
617 N. Wells
Chicago, IL 60610
(312) 751-9600
www.kanzamanchicago.com

Hours:
11 a.m.-10 p.m., Monday-Thursday
11 a.m.-midnight, Friday
Noon-midnight Saturday
1-10 p.m. Sunday

Pricing:
Appetizers, $4.95-$10.95;
Lunch Entrées, $8.95-$10.95;
Dinner entrées, $10.95-$19.95

By Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman
Original story appeared in StreetWise

Chicago’s neighborhoods are filled with restaurants that are—from the outside—innocuous enough to simply pass by without a second thought. They’re typically not using a publicist to spread the word and so you only notice them when a friend you trust gives you the heads up. This is especially true among Middle Eastern restaurants. There are many of them around the city but most stay under the radar.

We were pleasantly surprised when a high-powered husband and wife chef team suggested Kan Zaman, a Lebanese restaurant in River North, telling us it was one their favorites in Chicago. In a neighborhood filled with stylish, chic eateries, this place is less noticeable but worthy of the recommendation.

We should say at the outset that we like Middle Eastern food and we enjoy it on a fairly regular basis. It has a comforting warmth and enough interesting spiciness to tickle the palate without overdoing it. It’s also a healthy way to eat, in moderation of course. We’re not experts, but we’ve been in enough Middle Eastern restaurants to have a point of comparison. Kan Zaman stands up to the competition in a big way. The food is accessible but very good.

Entering on Wells Street, we liked the casual, comfortable seating and the warm room colors. The front windows open wide, bringing in the fresh air and sunshine. A nice display of Lebanese artifacts and artwork envelops the dining room. There are Western-style table and chairs on one side and cushion-laden Middle Eastern style seating on the other side. Take your pick.

We started our meal with the Vegetarian Combo, offering a taste of many appetizers, most of which we have tried at other places. We were pleasantly surprised at the quality and quantity of food. The Hummos had just the right amount of sesame tahini, the Baba Ghannouj was flavorful and smoothly textured; the Tabouleh was nicely herbed and chewy. The Falafel was crispy, tasty and not greasy. The Spinach and Cheese pie was subtle and flaky. For our main course, we chose to share a Shawarma dinner. As we ordered, we wondered if that would be enough food. No problem—the portion was very large and we noted how excellent the preparation was. The spiced lamb and beef was moist, tender and fresh.

The Kan Zaman menu offers a large selection of mainly well-known, popular dishes. There are nearly a dozen and a half choices for appetizers alone. In addition to the Vegetarian Combo, other interesting selections include Sautéed Mushrooms in a special marinara sauce; Lubia (sautéed fresh green beans in olive oil with tomatoes); Foul Modammas (fava been dip with garlic, hot peppers); Dolma (stuffed grape leaves), and Grilled Cheese (Lebanese cheese sautéed with olive oil topped with crushed pistachios, tomatoes and calamata olive). Hot appetizers include Kibbeh (deep fired bulgur spheres stuffed with ground beef and onions); Arayess (seasoned ground beef and lamb with garlic, onions and tomatoes); Makanek (spiced beef and lamb baby sausages sautéed in garlic and lemon-pomegranate sauce).

Salads are an important part of Middle Eastern cuisine and Kam Zaman doesn’t disappoint, with six familiar choices. Choose the simple Lebanese or Feta salads or go a step further with the Jerusalem Salad, Chicken Salad, Shawarma Salad and Fattoush.

Pita sandwiches are served with delicious Lebanese fries (seasoned with Lebanese thyme). Choices include Falafel, Shawarma (beef and lamb), Chicken Shawarma, Kafta Kabob (ground beef and lamb), Shish Tawook (marinated breast of chicken kabob), and Hummos.

Lunchgoers can enjoy very reasonably priced specials from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Excellent choices include a variety of kabobs: Beef, Lamb, Kafta or the Combo. The Mediterranean Sautée offers a choice of chicken, lamb or beef with sautéed vegetables, potatoes, onions, green peppers, tomatoes and mushrooms.

Dinnertime entrée specials that are worth a try include the Lamb Chops (baby lamb chops charbroiled and served with fresh tomatoes), Quail (juicy marinated charbroiled quails, served with tomatoes, onions and green peppers); Vegetarian Moussaa (sautéed eggplant, potatoes, green peppers, onions, mushrooms, fresh tomatoes). Seafood lovers will enjoy the Grilled Salmon, Shrimp Kabob and the Shrimp Sautée.

If you’re in River North and want to dine simply but well, we like this place. It’s been around for a long time and, now that we’ve been there, we’re not surprised. It’s also BYOB, so bring along a nice bottle of your favorite.

Note: DineWise is a weekly column appearing in StreetWise magazine. Lee Barrie is on the StreetWise board of directors and he and his wife Cindy own Kurman Communications, a Chicago-based public relations agency specializing in lifestyle, restaurant and hospitality strategic branding, marketing promotions, media relations and social networking. If you’d like your restaurant to be featured on the DineWise blog and in StreetWise magazine, please contact DineWise@kurman.com.

Argyle worthwhile destination: Hai Yen, a great choice

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Hai Yen

1055 W. Argyle St.

Chicago, IL 60640

773-561-4077

http://www.haiyenrestaurant.com

Most dishes under $10


Hours:

Mon., Tues., Thurs.: 10:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.

Fri.: 10:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Sat.: 9:30 a.m. – 10:30 p.m.

Sun.: 9:30 a.m. – 10 p.m.


By Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman

Story originally appeared in StreetWise


West Argyle Street is known as Chicago’s place for authentic Vietnamese cuisine. On a recent Friday night, two restaurants were busy. We chose one of them: Hai Yen, located at 1055 W. Argyle. Delicious and inexpensive, it was a great choice.


We were greeted by friendly staff helping guests navigate the robust menu of Vietnamese and Chinese delights. The menu is nicely divided into categories so it’s relatively easy to pick out an assortment of dishes, all of which are large enough to share: appetizers, salads, soups, noodle soups, rice dishes, fried noodle dishes, vermicelli rice noodle dishes, traditional favorites and an assortment of chicken, beef, pork, seafood and vegetarian entrées. There are so many choices that it would take several trips to fully explore the menu. For the uninitiated, the servers are happy to point out the most popular dishes, so it won’t be a total guessing game.


On this particular day, we enjoyed the Banh Xeo, a Saigon-style crepe made from rice flour and filled with shrimp and pork, accompanied by lettuce and fresh herbs—mint, basil and others. We piled the herbs on the crepe and made a wrap; very fresh and aromatic. We also enjoyed Goi Cuon, large spring rolls.

For a salad course we ordered the fresh and crunchy Goi Ngo Sen (Lotus Root Salad) featuring shredded lotus roots, chopped cucumber and onions in a light, tangy dressing. Our rice dish was the flavorful Chinese specialty, Com Tom Thit Ram Man, shrimp and pork braised in a traditional brown garlic and lime sauce.

With these four dishes we were quite satisfied, but we had to at least try one of the very popular frozen fruit drinks, basically a smoothie made with fresh fruit and tapioca. There were some exotic sounding flavors—Durian, Sapoche and Guanabana—but we were politely advised that these Southeast Asian fruits are an acquired taste so we chose the popular Banana/Strawberry. It was excellent; the large tapioca balls added a distinctive texture.


Food adventurers, start your engines and visit Hai Yen. You’ll thoroughly enjoy the quality and variety of this delicious, but not too spicy cuisine, amidst the friendly, fun-loving crowd.

Note: DineWise is a weekly column appearing in StreetWise magazine. Lee Barrie is on the StreetWise board of directors and he and his wife Cindy own Kurman Communications, a Chicago-based public relations agency specializing in lifestyle, restaurant and hospitality strategic branding, marketing promotions, media relations and social networking. If you’d like your restaurant to be featured on the DineWise blog and in StreetWise magazine, please contact DineWise@kurman.com.

Fat Willy’s Knows How to Satisfy a BBQ and Burger Crave Better Than Most

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Fat Willy’s Rib Shack
2416 W. Schubert Ave.
Chicago, IL 60647
(773) 782-1800
www.fatwillys.com

Hours :(open for lunch and dinner):
11:30 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sun. – Thurs
11:30 a.m. – 11 p.m., Fri. and Sat.

Prices: entrées: $12.95 – $24.95


By Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman
Story originally appeared in StreetWise

Ah, barbecue! There are days when nothing else will hit the spot. Fun, comfort and good eatin’ all wrapped up in one meal. We happen to enjoy a good dry-rubbed slab of Chicago baby backs and Fat Willy’s, right across the street from the Kerasotes City North 14 movie multiplex, is one of our favorites. The popular restaurant has been around for a few years and is as busy as ever.

What we like about Fat Willy’s is the combination of good service, hearty portions and the quality of the barbecue. They pay attention to details and the preparation is superb.
We dined here recently with some good friends and their food lovin’ teenage sons. We had a great time and the teens were more than delighted with their feast. But keep in mind that this is no dieter’s paradise. The food is rich and you can quickly accumulate mucho calories, so moderation—in other words, sharing—is a good idea at Fat Willy’s (be prepared for a $3 sharing charge, however). A roll of napkins is on the table and you’ll use plenty, but that’s part of the fun.

The dinner menu begins with a variety of rich but tasty appetizers. We loved the baked artichoke dip, smothered in garlic cheese and served with bite size rounds of garlic toast. The BBQ chicken wings are meaty, not too hot and served with three types of BBQ sauce. The chili cheese fries are what you would hope for—indulgently gooey and delicious. If you want to cross over into fried food, the Jalapeno Corn Fritters are truly decadent, with a touch of bite but not overly hot. Other decadences include a hand dipped corn dog (kids will love ‘em) and amazingly plump doughnut-inspired onion rings.

Although we didn’t order soup in the hot weather, Fat Willy’s does offer a robust Andouille sausage gumbo, with nice chunks of okra. Again, it’s got bite but is not too spicy. Fat Willy’s signature chili is what you would expect—a nice smoky flavor paired with rich cheddar; jalapeno salsa served on the side.

On to the barbecue! Fat Willy’s serves several cuts. They are dry rubbed, marinated, smoked and finished on the grill. The full rack of baby backs is generous, and served with fresh cole slaw, soup or salad and choice of side dish. The ribs have a modest amount of sauce, which is how we like them, but there are three BBQ sauces on the table to enhance your food, if you desire. The Kansas City style ribs are larger, with the same preparation. If you’re a rib tips fan, you can get these as well.

Additional entrées include a very moist and tender sliced barbecue beef brisket, which our friend loves, and a clean but smoky flavored barbecue chicken which is smoked over Applewood and hickory. If you’re a mac and cheese fan, Fat Willy’s is the place for a hearty, baked-to-order dish. This is a great dish to share; no one will be disappointed unless you didn’t order enough. If jumbo shrimp are a favorite, you can order them either breaded and fried or marinated and grilled.

The meals come with a choice of side dish and there are several good choices. The baked beans were excellent and, as corn bread fans, we enjoyed Fat Willy’s rich take, with some jalapeno and cheddar thrown in for good measure.

If you’re in the mood for a sandwich, Fat Willy’s offers rich, hefty choices. Our teenage dining companions went simply wild about the BBQ Burgers. These ¾ pound monsters were thick, juicy and when ordered medium rare, they came out tender and pink on the inside, the way they’re supposed to be. Other sandwich choices include a hearty BBQ beef brisket sandwich, a non-greasy smoked chicken sandwich and a satisfying pulled pork sandwich.

Fat Willy’s doesn’t skimp on dessert, but you should plan ahead if you’re going for it. There is a very good New Orleans chocolate pecan pie, a rich and moist chocolate brownie served with ice cream and a creamy peanut butter chocolate pie made with an Oreo cookie crust.

There is a nice kids’ menu, and other extra touches include homemade lemonade and yes, some nice salads, including a cobb salad and a roasted veggie salad.

You can park in the movie theater ramp for $2 or there is some limited street parking.

Note: DineWise is a weekly column appearing in StreetWise magazine. Lee Barrie is on the StreetWise board of directors and he and his wife Cindy own Kurman Communications, a Chicago-based public relations agency specializing in lifestyle, restaurant and hospitality strategic branding, marketing promotions, media relations and social networking. If you’d like your restaurant to be featured on the DineWise blog and in StreetWise magazine, please contact DineWise@kurman.com.

Evergreen is a Chinatown spot that satisfies

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Evergreen
2411 S. Wentworth Avenue
Chicago, IL 60616
(312) 225-8898

Hours:
Open 7 days 11:30 a.m. to midnight, Sunday-Thursday
11:30 a.m. to 1 a.m., Friday and Saturday

Prices: $8-$14 for regular entrées; up to $30 for special fish or seafood dishes

By Lee Barrie and Cindy Kurman
Story originally appeared in StreetWise

Discussing what is the best Chinese restaurant in Chicago’s Chinatown is like debating which is better, Mac or PC. There will never be a clear winner because different folks like different experiences. Plus, there are just too many choices in Chinatown for any one restaurant to gain the majority vote. So, what one should hope for in a visit to Chinatown is high quality, but not necessarily superlative, food and an enjoyable time strolling through the neighborhood’s gift shops, bakeries and food markets. When we recently accompanied our friends to Evergreen restaurant, based on their recommendation, we had very good food and a quite pleasant experience.

Evergreen is handsomely, but not necessarily stylishly, appointed. The dining room is large and able to handle big groups. The menu is divided into numerous sections featuring fare most Americans would be familiar with plus some enhanced house specialties. An additional green-colored menu presents dishes that are a bit more authentically Chinese. All in all, there is a very large selection from which to choose.

We started with a variety of shared appetizers. The traditional egg rolls, hot and fresh, were delicious. We also ordered some tasty fried wontons which were of homemade quality and surprisingly non-greasy. Other good choices were the pot stickers and chicken lettuce wraps.

For main courses, we ordered three entrees and a side of Szechuan stir-fried green beans. Our server informed us they had no green beans and suggested pea pods instead, which turned out to be a fine substitute. When in a Chinese restaurant, we always hunt for the Crispy Shrimp and Walnuts, which is usually not on the menu. At Evergreen we were excited to find it. With its slightly sweet juxtaposition of chewy and crunchy, it’s a unique recipe. Evergreen’s rendition was as good as any we’ve had, which is quite a compliment.

We were surprised when our foodie friend ordered Cantonese-style Chicken Chow Mein, but once it was served we totally understood: It’s a beautifully presented dish that’s infinitely better than the chopped-up concoction you get at your typical Chinese take-out. Finally, we shared a Crispy Duck with Taro Root. This dish, from the green “authentic” menu, featured a nice breaded boneless duck breast and resembled a shepherd’s pie. Sandwiched in between two layers of duck meat was a layer of mashed taro root, which has the texture of mashed potatoes but a unique, pleasing flavor.

We had no room for dessert, but with several Chinese bakeries on the street, finding a delectable sweet while strolling nearby is easy. Enjoy the neighborhood.

Note: DineWise is a weekly column appearing in StreetWise magazine. Lee Barrie is on the StreetWise board of directors and he and his wife Cindy own Kurman Communications, a Chicago-based public relations agency specializing in lifestyle, restaurant and hospitality strategic branding, marketing promotions, media relations and social networking. If you’d like your restaurant to be featured on the DineWise blog and in StreetWise magazine, please contact DineWise@kurman.com.

Michael Lachowicz brings new meaning to sandwiches at Wally & Agador’s Gourmet Cafe

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Wally & Agador’s Gourmet Cafe

3310 N. Halsted St.
Chicago, IL (773) 325-9664

Hours: 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Wednesday;
11 a.m. to midnight Thursday through Saturday.

By Stephanie DeMeester
Story originally appeared in StreetWise

Many people claim to offer gourmet sandwiches, which sometimes makes us question how they may define “gourmet.” Take high quality, artisan ingredients and the classic French technique of a solid three-star chef hailing from the likes of Le Francais, Les Deux Gros and Restaurant Michael, and ask the chef to make you a sandwich. The result? Wally & Agador’s Gourmet Café by acclaimed chef, Michael Lachowicz which celebrated its grand opening Friday, May 8.

Lachowicz, chef/owner of the acclaimed Restaurant Michael in Winnetka, Ill. has taken his best fine dining entrees, and created their gourmet sandwich counterparts at his new Boystown retail shop. The best part? The sandwiches range from $7-$12 each, and include a side salad or housemade chips.

Wally & Agador’s, named after his two “diva” dogs, is the ideal way to enjoy truly gourmet food at a budget friendly price. The menu includes a number of diva inspired sandwiches prepared with classic French technique, as well as a number of freshly made deli creations and rotating entrée selections from Restaurant Michael’s menu which vary each week.

Favorite sandwich selections include the Wham Sammich, slow-cooked “sous vide” leg of lamb, thyme, garlic and black pepper mayo served in a warm baguette with fresh Laura Chenel Goat’s cheese and eggplant “caviar” ($10); The Elton John, chicken sausage studded with dried huckleberries with truffle sauce, shallot jam and pommes frites ($11); and the Esther Williams, lobster and scallop sausage nestled in butter lettuce leaves with tarragon mayo in a soft potato roll dusted with Old Bay © seasoning ($12).

Save room for dessert because Wally & Agador’s has two sweet namesake sandwiches: The Wally, peanut butter, marshmallow fluff and sliced bananas on a batter-dipped croissant ($7); and The Agador which switches out the peanut butter for Nutella. Yum!

Wally & Agador’s only has four tables (seats for 16), so carry-out is a popular option. Wally & Agador’s would be ideal for your next office party and delivery is already in the works. With friendly customer service and outstanding, truly unique sandwiches, Wally & Agador’s is perfect for the diva in all of us.